Affordable Paris Hotels and Hostels for Summer 2013

Planning for the summer holiday is currently on the agenda for so many of us, including students who have recently graduated from college, and the big question is how to do Paris without breaking the bank. If you don’t have a friend’s couch to crash on, hostels remain a good choice, as do a number of great new affordable Paris hotels. 

Edgar Hotel.

I was beyond excited to find, via my friend Jane Peck, the newly opened Edgar Hotel, which I predict will be the hottest place to stay in Paris this year. Situated near the rue Montorgueil in the ever-cooler 2nd Arrondissement, this is THE place to stay if you are an art or fashion lover and appreciate something beyond the norm. Each room was designed and decorated by a different artist, designer or photographer, all of whom are friends or family of the hotel’s owner, Guillaume Rouget. Guillaume already has several terribly cool restaurants in town, and this location is no exception. There’s no need to search for a place to people-watch, as you’ll be able to do so in the lobby/restaurant on the ground level.
I would recommend this hotel for fashionistas and the bobo chic crowd, or those who appreciate interesting, offbeat design. You can stroll to the adorable rue Montorgueil, just a few blocks away, and pick up some sweets at Stohrer, the oldest pâtisserie in Paris, then head to the Passage des Panoramas for some shopping along a glass-roofed passage. Be sure to check out the Edgar’s African-inspired room, designed by the photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand. The prices at the Edgar start at less than 200 euros! So what are you waiting for?  

St. Christopher’s Paris.

When looking for hostels, we often turn to HostelBookers. Of course a concern when choosing a hostel is how to avoid the up-all-night boys’ club that can sometimes make staying at one a tad annoying. St. Christopher’s Paris on the canal Saint-Martin is considered a female-friendly hostel. It’s located in one of the best neighborhoods in town, the 10th Arrondissement, known for being fun, young and artsy. Drinking rosé on a warm summer night along the canal with many other 20-something Parisians is one of the highlights of summer. Be sure to download our Canal St. Martin walking trip before you head to the area. We’ve scouted out the stock shops (discount stores) in the ’hood as well as all the best restos and sights. Prices at St. Christopher’s, including breakfast, start at around 50 euros a night.

Home Latin.

Another hostel I found on the HostelBookers site is Home Latin, situated in the lively Latin Quarter near the Sorbonne, minutes away from Notre Dame. Staying in central Paris for prices as low as 70 euros is a real coup.  

Avalon Hotel. 

If you are coming in for the weekend from London, head to the Avalon Hotel, with prices starting at just 60 euros a night. You can simply roll your suitcase to the hotel’s front door and begin enjoying the city within minutes after your train arrives.

Avalon Hotel.

At the Avalon, there is a two-bedroom apartment that sleeps four, so if you’re heading to Paris with friends, splitting this room four ways can lower the price per person to around 35 euros!

The Loft.

The hippest-looking hostel I found was the Loft, a new budget hotel and hostel in the 20th Arrondissement, not far from the nightlife headquarters on the rue Oberkampf. Prices at the Loft start at 35 euros a night, and at that rate you’ll have plenty of money left over to buy a round for your friends at le P’tit Garage, a few blocks away on the rue Jean-Pierre Timbaud (in the 11th Arrondissement). Aah, summertime!  

The Loft.

Related Links
Edgar Hotel
HostelBookers
St. Christopher’s Paris
Home Latin
Avalon Hotel
The Loft
Female-friendly hostels in Paris and beyond
More affordable hotels in Paris
Editor’s note: Consult HostelBookers for more hostels worldwide.